Incidence of Carpal Coalition in an Asian Population - Preliminary Findings of a Study on Patients from a Distal Radius Fracture Database.

BACKGROUND: Congenital carpal coalition is usually seen as an incidental finding. The incidence of carpal coalition has been reported from 0.1 to 9.5 %; highest incidence has been reported in people of African descent. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the incidence and subtypes of carpal coalition in an Asian population.

METHODS: Review of the radiographs of the patients in our distal radius fracture database from 2009 to 2014 was conducted to determine the incidence and type of carpal coalition.

RESULTS: 4141 patients' wrist radiographs were reviewed. 2 cases of carpal coalition were identified; this leads to an incidence of 0.048%. One was of luno-triquetral type and the other was of capito-hamate type.

CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results of our study indicate that carpal coalition in the Asian population is less common than that reported in the Western literature. Our results are inconclusive as to the type of carpal coalition that is more common.